Besides, he had faith in the return of the French. Troops had
been seen in the direction of Sauval.
"Ah, let them hurry; let them get here as soon as possible," she
murmured fervently.
At that moment eleven o'clock sounded from the belfry of Rocreuse. The
strokes were clear and distinct. She arose with a terrified look; two
hours had passed since she quitted the mill.
"Hear me," she said rapidly: "if we have need of you I will wave my
handkerchief from my chamber window."
And she departed on a run, while Dominique, very uneasy, stretched
himself out upon the edge of the ditch to watch the mill. As she was
about to enter Rocreuse, Francoise met an old beggar, Pere Bontemps, who
knew everybody in the district. He bowed to her; he had just seen the
miller in the midst of the Prussians; then, making the sign of the cross
and muttering broken words, he went on his way.
"The two hours have passed," said the officer when Francoise appeared.
Pere Merlier was there, seated upon the bench beside the well. He was
smoking. The young girl again begged, wept, sank on her knees. She
wished to gain time. The hope of seeing the French return had increased
in her, and while lamenting she thought she heard in the distance, the
measured tramp of an army.
Pages:
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819